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Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai scripted history on October 29 in the second T20I of the series against Zimbabwe. In Sharjah, Omarzai walked in to bat when Afghanistan had lost four wickets for five runs in 3.2 overs. There was a need to steady the innings and then post a fighting total. But Omarzai flipped the script. He shared a record-breaking 142-run partnership with Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and became the first batter from a full-member nation to score a T20I century at no.6. In the run chase of 222, skipper Sikandar Raza scored an unbeaten 106. But Raza’s ton went in vain as Zimbabwe lost the match by 19 runs.
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Horrendous start from Afghanistan
Raza won the toss and opted to bowl first. Brad Evans struck twice in the first over, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Akram. After two more boundary-less overs, Afghanistan lost two more wickets. Kundai Matigimu struck off consecutive deliveries to get rid of Ibrahim Zadran and Shahidullah Kamal. Omarzai walked in to bat and faced four consecutive deliveries. Sediqullah Atal hit two consecutive fours in the next over to break the shackles. After powerplay overs, Afghanistan were 19/4.
Omarzai hit the first six of the innings in the eighth over. Just when Afghanistan were beginning to recover, Vincent Masekesa got Atal out stumped, beating him with a tossed-up googly. Atal departed for a 21-ball 17 as Afghanistan lost half the side for 38 in 8.1 overs.
Omarzai, Ahmadzai lift Afghanistan
After the drinks break, Omarzai took an offensive route. He and Ahmad Ahmadzai smashed Ryan Burl for a six each in the 11th over. Ahmadzai took on Raza and Ernest Masuku as well. In the 15th over, Omarzai hit Raza for two sixes and a four. He reached his half-century from 31 deliveries. Afghanistan crossed the 100-run mark as well.
The 17th over turned out to be a big one. Omarzai whacked Evans for three sixes and two fours. He reached his maiden T20I ton off 45 balls. In the next over, Ahmadzai hit Masuku for three fours and completed his half-century off 26 balls. On the next ball, he was caught at long-off by Tafadzwa Siga. His knock of 52 off 27 balls featured five fours and three sixes.
The record-breaking partnership
Omarzai and Ahmadzai shared a 142-run partnership for the sixth wicket. It is the highest sixth-wicket partnership in the history of T20I cricket. Before the Afghanistan pair, the record belonged to West Indies' Andre Russell and Sherfane Rutherford with a 139-run partnership against Australia in Perth in 2024.
For Afghanistan, the previous highest sixth-wicket partnership was an unbeaten 86 between Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran against Ireland in Dehradun in 2019.
Omarzai’s record knocks
In the penultimate over, Omarzai hit two sixes before losing his wicket to Raza. The all-rounder's knock of 116 in 50 balls featured five fours and 12 sixes. He is the first batter from a full-member nation or one from a side that has played in the T20 World Cup to score a T20I century at no.6.
Rashid Khan blitz
In the final over bowled by Matigimu, Rashid powered Afghanistan to a great finish. Rashid hit four sixes in the over, including a hat-trick of maximums. He scored 25 runs from just six balls. His unbeaten cameo helped Afghanistan post 221/7 on the board.
Decent start for Zimbabwe in run chase
Zimbabwe's run chase got off to an ideal start. In the first over, Brian Bennett hit a four, took a single, and then Innocent Kaia hit a four and a six. After a century, Omarzai made an impact with the ball as well. In the fourth over, he dismissed Kaia with a short delivery. The opener fell for a 13-ball 25. In the sixth over, Abdullah Ahmadzai dismissed Bennett. He fell after scoring 22 runs from 15 balls. After the powerplay overs, Zimbabwe were 59/2.
Raza lacks support, Rashid achieves milestone
Zimbabwe's middle order couldn't make an impact. Burl, wicketkeeper-batter Tadiwanashe Marumani and Wessly Madhevere were dismissed for single-digit scores. The required run rate kept climbing, and Zimbabwe found themselves 88/5 at the halfway stage. In the next 10 overs, they needed 134 runs to win.
Meanwhile, with the wicket of Marumani, Rashid completed 200 T20I wickets. The leg-spinner became the only bowler in the world to achieve the feat in T20Is. The next on the list is England leggie Adil Rashid with 171 wickets. Rashid achieved the feat in 120 T20Is, striking at an average of 14.06.
Raza's record ton in vain
Raza tried to keep the run chase alive while Tsiga took his time. In the 13th over, Tsiga hit the first six of his innings. In the 15th over, Raza smashed a six and completed his half-century from 34 balls. When the acceleration came, the required run rate had already slipped out of reach. In the slog overs, Raza went berserk, clearing the boundary often by taking the aerial route.
36 runs were needed in the final over. While Zimbabwe lost the game by 19 runs, Raza reached his second T20I century from 54 balls. He landed the ball on the roof twice and walked off the field unbeaten for an unbeaten 106, featuring five fours and nine sixes. On the other end, Tsiga made a 23-ball 31 contribution in Zimbabwe’s 202/5. Their partnership of unbeaten 120 is the third-highest for the sixth wicket.
Raza became the first Zimbabwean batter to score a T20I century against a full-member or Test-playing nation. Raza's maiden ton came against Gambia in October 2024. In September 2025, Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor had scored their respective T20I centuries against Botswana and Tanzania, respectively.
Series win for Afghanistan
Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-T20I series. It is also Afghanistan's eighth consecutive series win over Zimbabwe.
Omarzai sent a message to his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS), ahead of the retention deadline. He was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for his record knock.
The third and final T20I of the series will be played on November 1 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
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